Churchill Announces Stakes Cut for Fall Meet

Churchill Downs has cut $975,000 from its fall stakes program, blaming an ongoing dispute between track management and the Kentucky horsemen over the allocation of revenue derived from Internet and phone wagers. Eleven of Churchill's twelve graded stakes had their purses cut. The GIII Ack Ack H., the GIII River City H., the GII Falls City H., the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., and the GII Golden Rod S. saw cuts of $100,000. Four GIII races received reductions of $50,000: the Iroquois S., the Pocahontas S., the Commonwealth Turf S., and the Cardinal H. The GII Chilukki S. also had its purse cut by $50,000. The GII Mrs. Revere was trimmed by $25,000. The ungraded Mariah's Storm S. and the Cherokee Run S. have been canceled. The meet's signature race, the GII Clark Handicap, was unaffected, and will offer a purse of $500,000.